GREENSBURG, IN – Authorities in Decatur County have arrested a 28-year-old man after he allegedly shot and killed his father at their shared residence, later leading deputies to the body when they arrived at the scene.
Wyatt Taylor faces formal murder charges in connection with the death of his father, Joshua Taylor, 50, according to court documents. The case began to unfold late Monday night, turning into early Tuesday morning, when authorities say Wyatt Taylor contacted his uncle with concerning questions that prompted the family member to call for a welfare check.
Probable cause documents show Wyatt Taylor called his uncle and asked him, “Should I do it or should I go to bed?” Alarmed, the uncle attempted to reach Joshua Taylor, who was believed to be at home, but received no response. A second call from Wyatt soon followed, this time requesting a ride. During the conversation, the uncle reported hearing smoke alarms in the background.
Wyatt Taylor allegedly refused to let his uncle speak with Joshua, telling him their father was sleeping and later explaining away the smoke alarm as the result of burning a pizza. The uncle continued to press, but Wyatt reportedly hung up again without handing over the phone.
Concerned for his brother’s welfare and noting Wyatt’s reported history of depression, the uncle contacted 911 around 12:05 a.m. Tuesday and requested law enforcement check on the home located outside of Greensburg. Deputies arrived at the property within minutes and encountered Wyatt in the driveway. He reiterated the story about burning a pizza and assured the officers that everything was fine.
After being rebuffed during the initial visit, the uncle persisted, asking deputies to return for a second check. When officers arrived again, Wyatt maintained his father was asleep but ultimately allowed them inside. Deputies found Joshua Taylor dead in a ground-floor bedroom, with visible gunshot wounds to his head and neck. Several spent bullet casings were observed in the room, according to the police report.
Officers questioned Wyatt Taylor at the scene, who told them no one else was inside the home. He also admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier in the evening. Police found no evidence of a burnt pizza, but did recover a firearm matching the caliber of the shell casings, along with an empty magazine and ammunition consistent with those used in the shooting.
Wyatt Taylor was taken into custody and questioned by investigators. After being advised of his rights, he reportedly said he had recently moved back to Indiana from Utah and described his father as having erratic behavior, citing fears for his own safety. Police documents indicate Wyatt told investigators his father had been acting aggressively in the days leading up to the shooting and that he was afraid.
An autopsy performed the following day determined that Joshua Taylor had sustained multiple fatal gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Investigators recovered a bullet from the victim’s body that was consistent with shell casings and ammunition found at the scene. The number of spent cartridges matched the magazine capacity of the recovered handgun.
Wyatt Taylor is being held at the Decatur County Jail. A pretrial conference is scheduled for October 7, with a jury trial set to begin on February 16 of next year. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.